Cost of Living Comparison Between Aba and Lagos Cost of Living Comparison Between Aba and Lagos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $411 per month in Aba vs $942 in Lagos, rent included.

A couple spends around $662 per month in Aba vs $1,840 in Lagos, rent included.

A family of three spends $912 per month in Aba vs $2,739 in Lagos, rent included.

Aba is about 56% cheaper than Lagos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Aba and Lagos are more affordable than the global median – Aba 70% lower, Lagos 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 ₦4,919

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.0 ₦66.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 ₦10.2K

$7.52 ₦9,969

2.13%

Cappuccino

$0.87 ₦1,159

$2.86 ₦3,792

-69.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₦585

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₦303

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 ₦2,740

$1.02 ₦1,349

102.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₦3,187

$2.06 ₦2,725

16.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.80 ₦5,035

$3.10 ₦4,102

22.58%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 ₦2,941

$1.46 ₦1,929

52.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ₦1,677

Eggs

$2.27 ₦3,009

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 ₦15.3K

$3.46 ₦4,583

233.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,091

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.34 ₦1,771

$4.37 ₦5,792

-69.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.43 ₦7,199

$1.66 ₦2,198

227.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 ₦738

$1.31 ₦1,735

-57.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ₦1,456

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 ₦1,707

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 ₦4,696

$1.38 ₦1,833

156.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,827

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₦1,492

$0.85 ₦1,124

32.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₦204

$0.39 ₦521

-61.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 ₦2,060

$0.56 ₦736

176.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.27 ₦9,630

$2.61 ₦3,455

178.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₦1,691

$0.54 ₦722

137.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₦1,861

$0.47 ₦618

197.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ₦537

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.35 ₦12.4K

$19.88 ₦26.4K

-52.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 ₦861

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 ₦1,276

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₦2,963

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,097

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$6,033 ₦8.0M

$11.2K ₦14.8M

-46.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$7,467 ₦9.9M

$13.5K ₦17.9M

-44.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$117 ₦154.5K

$113 ₦150.2K

2.84%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.22 ₦2,944

$16.22 ₦21.5K

-86.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.54 ₦60.4K

$32.40 ₦42.9K

40.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.70 ₦36.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.95 ₦9,206

Cinema Ticket

$2.13 ₦2,827

$4.84 ₦6,413

-55.99%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$680 ₦901.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,073 ₦1.4M

$19.7K ₦26.2M

-94.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.96 ₦19.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.14 ₦24.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.33 ₦20.3K

$36.42 ₦48.3K

-57.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.73 ₦24.8K

$48.47 ₦64.2K

-61.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 ₦183.5K

$725 ₦960.5K

-80.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₦556.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₦603.8K

$2,792 ₦3.7M

-83.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 ₦299.0K

$1,494 ₦2.0M

-84.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,077 ₦1.4M

$3,197 ₦4.2M

-66.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$474 ₦628.6K

$1,623 ₦2.2M

-70.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$99.0 ₦131.2K

$118 ₦156.0K

-15.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.05

-33.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aba: September 7, 2026

Last update for Lagos: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Aba versus $725 in Lagos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 19% higher in Lagos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Aba vs Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lagos is pricier by about 129%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $617 per month in Aba and $1,412 in Lagos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Lagos – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Public transport costs about 113% less in Aba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $411, than in Lagos at $942. In Aba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Aba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lagos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.